As EU member states, regional and local authorities prepare to implement the revised Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD), this briefing by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) argues that decision-makers and authorities should pay particular attention to addressing socio-economic inequalities in their clean air efforts. The swift transposition and implementation of the new rules, with strengthened administrative collaboration and the full utilisation of financial support schemes, promise significant progress towards cleaner air across Europe. Improved air quality will be beneficial to everyone and contribute to preventing health inequalities for those living in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas.
HEAL has submitted a response to the public consultation on the Sustainable Use of Pesticides (SUD) Directive as well as published a position on the topic.
The SUD revision is an opportunity for Europe to change its current agricultural model of conventional agriculture that has devastating impacts on human and environmental health. HEAL supports the gradual transition towards a pesticide-free agricultural model, where the methods used in pest-management do not jeopardise the health of farmers, residents of pesticide-treated areas or consumers and promote, rather than destroy, biodiversity.